Shrewsbury 1-2 U's: A Taylor Made Three Points

United increase the gap to the drop to seven points with their first win on the road since August

Photo courtesy of Cambridge United FC

Cast your mind back to the 12th of August 2023. All the way back to that sunshine soaked early season fixture up at Fleetwood Town. When it was shorts and t-shirt weather and your sunnies were flying off during goal celebrations in musty away ends. When you’re not glued to the league table, constantly eyeing up results across the country. When the season has a hope and an optimism that the stark reality of the GMT clock quickly extinguishes. That was the last time the U’s won away from home.

A lot has happened since then. We’ve waved goodbye to a certified club legend in the dugout, and welcomed in a new face to take charge. We’ve had multiple injuries to key players, three rounds of FA Cup football, and one devastating loss in the derby. And, perhaps most importantly, we’ve also added a host of new players to the squad.

Back then in Fleetwood it was Gassan Ahadme whose name was being song on trains across the country as the delighted U’s travelled home. On Saturday against Shrewsbury, nearly six months later, it’s another commanding presence up front on everyone’s lips: Lyle Taylor.

Taylor’s impact on this United side has been plain for all to see. Three goals in four games clearly playing a big part in that. But it’s also the intangibles; his attitude, temperament, and leadership, both on and off the pitch. On it, it feels like he leads by example, giving the whole side a grit and steel that it never felt like it used to have. We’ve highlighted before how bad our record was when coming back from behind, and now under Harris we’ve done it three times to pick up points, here at Shrewsbury again. While the manager clearly has had an impact, having a figure like Taylor leading the line only helps to translate that to the pitch.

Taylor’s post-match interview also highlighted the off pitch traits that he is bringing to the ranks. He talks about the advice he’s been giving young Saleem Akanbi, taking him to one side and talking him through how to deal with a major injury and the loneliness that inevitably comes from it. This is the leadership that it feels like he’s naturally developed - he is a senior figure here, and he’s not just embraced that role, but he’s thriving in it.

As for the game itself, the U’s had to show a lot of different elements to their game to bring home the three points. After United had dominated the ball in the opening exchanges, the Shrews opened the scoring through Daniel Udoh. Shipley found a bit of space down the left hand side, and Ryan Bennett probably will feel he could’ve done more to stop the low cross coming in, before Udoh turned it home.

The goal itself was a bit soft, but no disaster. What was so impressive was the reaction. Only about 60 seconds later, Lankester won the ball back on the halfway line, knocked it beyond the full back and played the perfect ball across the box for Taylor, who had made a lung busting run to be positioned exactly where you’d want him to be to tap home. A really, really satisfying goal to score, and the U’s were level within a few minutes of falling behind. The game was fairly level until the break, with the distinct feeling that it was there for the taking if either side could muster up a bit of quality.

And that bit of quality came within the first minute of the second half, when most U’s fans were still finishing off their half time beverage. Taylor’s deft flick to Kachunga in the build up was exceptional, Kachunga’s run to the byline and simple pass to pick out Taylor was equally effective, and Taylor’s finish into the top corner was sublime. That sort of devastating ruthlessness in front of goal from him is invaluable, and something this team had been crying out for since Ahadme’s injury.

From then on, the U’s looked as comfortable as you could hope for. There was only one moment of real panic, when a scramble from a corner resulted in a point black save from Stevens when you were just waiting for the net to bulge. But in open play the U’s defence stood firm, not letting Shrewsbury play through them and comfortably dealing with their threats. Danny Andrew and Liam Bennett, who have both come into some criticism this season from the fanbase, were both excellent, as was Jordan Cousins guarding the back four, a return to his good form after a poor display against Burton.

The three points itself is huge. The momentum it gives us going into February equally big. But combined with the other results (no one except Reading picking up a point below us, apart from Fleetwood who beat Vale to bring them into the scrap), it is priceless. It is potentially this run of eight points from four games that we’ll look back on as the run that kept us up.

We only need a point a game now and that should do us. But with so much football to play over the next few weeks, we’ll know better where we stand once the month is over. For now, let’s enjoy these rare away three points.

Soundtrack of the Match: CeCe Peniston - Finally